Economy21:00 · Jul 16

Israeli Parents Face Soaring Summer Camp Costs Exceeding 10,000 Shekels Per Child

YnetCenter

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

Key points

01Summer camp costs in Israel often exceed 10,000 shekels per child, especially for private camps.
02Publicly funded camps start around 1,000 shekels, while private camps can cost several thousand for short sessions.
03Preparatory courses for first grade and specialized camps for teens add significant extra expenses.
04Families with multiple children report total summer costs surpassing 35,000 shekels including camps and youth activities.
05Experts recommend early budgeting, planning, and using consumer discounts to reduce summer expenses by up to 30%.
06International summer camps in Europe and the U.S. cost tens of thousands of shekels including travel.

In this story

People

Meital, Irit Toito, Orit, Sigalit Cohen Baruch, Dana, Galit, Rotem, Prof. Guy Hochman

OrganizationsORT Dan Gourmet College, Matah, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Shalhevet Consumer Club, Kimaama, After School, Country Surf School

PlacesHerzliya, Raanana, Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Mikve Israel, Netanya, Nesher, Kiryat Bialik

The story · English

Summer vacation, traditionally a joyful time for children, has become a significant financial burden for Israeli parents. With the end of subsidized educational frameworks, families scramble to find costly solutions such as summer camps, courses, babysitters, and after-school programs to bridge the gap between children's holidays and parents' work schedules. Expenses that initially seem manageable quickly escalate to tens of thousands of shekels for families with multiple children, especially amid ongoing living cost increases.

The variety of summer camps has expanded, including offerings in artificial intelligence, technology, surfing, cooking, and sports. Publicly funded camps remain relatively affordable, starting around 1,000 shekels, but private camps can cost several thousand shekels for short sessions. Parents feel trapped between the lack of free options and the necessity to work, while children demand enriching activities. For example, one mother from Herzliya spends about 10,000 shekels on private football, surfing, and cooking camps for her three children, plus costly preparatory courses for first grade.

Older children also incur high costs, with specialized dance or leadership camps reaching thousands of shekels for just a few days. Some families report total summer expenses, including camps and youth movement activities, exceeding 35,000 shekels. International camps add even greater costs, with programs in Barcelona or the U.S. costing upwards of 15,000 shekels plus travel.

Experts advise treating summer expenses as a fixed annual budget and planning early to avoid last-minute costly decisions. Behavioral economists recommend creating detailed schedules, budgets, and backup plans to reduce stress and financial strain. Consumer clubs and credit card benefits can help reduce costs by up to 30%. Many parents also organize home-based activities to save money.

Municipal and community centers continue to offer more affordable camps with diverse themes, but private camps dominate the market with premium prices for specialized content and professional instruction. The financial pressure of summer childcare highlights the gap between education schedules and work demands, making summer a costly challenge for many Israeli families.

Read the original at Ynet